Naruto was confused. He stared at the empty ocean, the blue sky, and the wind in Going Merry's sails. He'd been hiding with his scroll again, trying to figure out more about sealing, specifically the seal he knew but didn't know the purpose of. The one he hadn't tested for instinctual knowledge of how destructive those tests could be if he didn't know exactly what the seal was supposed to do. Then he'd come out from his hidey hole because something felt wrong.
He turned to look at the empty ship, except for the orange haired woman at the helm.
"Nami! Why're we moving? Where's everyone?"
The woman whirled around, staring at him with widened eyes. "Naruto! I thought you were at… Oh no, of course."
She looked pained. Sad. And Naruto thought she might've been crying. He stepped closer, concern for her breaking through his apprehension.
"Are you o- OUCh!" he held his bonked head, glaring up at their navigator. "What was that for!?"
Nami was getting pale. Naruto stared, still confused, as she stepped back and leaned against the white railing heavily. Her shoulders were tight. Was she… trembling?
"Why can't this be easy?" she hissed under her breath.
He made to touch her hand but stopped.
"...Hey, you know we're friends, right?" he asked. "I promised I'll help, remember?"
She breathed deep and smiled at him. That smile was so fake. Naruto shuddered.
"Of course, Naruto-kun, I know. I just took Merry to get her away from the fighting. You should probably go back there to help."
The blond scrunched his nose and crossed his arms, unimpressed. "My clones are already there, whatever's happening… You just wanna get rid of me!"
Nami glared at him and yelled. "So what, you blond, idiotic, annoying BRAT!"
Naruto reeled back, like he was slapped. The navigator's volume was rising.
"I never wanted you around, you're just a means to an end, and I'M NOT LETTING YOU GET IN MY WAY!"
The shout echoed across the blue ocean. Naruto stared, eyes wide. His eyes drifted down. Nami was breathing harshly, one hand gripping the railing. The ninja's hands balled into fists.
"Y'know… that would've hurt…" he started, his eyes fixed on Nami's trembling hands. "But you're clearly lying."
Her breath hitched.
"Nami," he looked her straight into her eyes, blue meeting watery brown. "What's going on?"
xXXx
The clone stared at the chaos that had suddenly brewed up around the restaurant, frowning worriedly at the ocean. Boss was out there, somehow, but since he existed still he was okay. Instead he shadowed Luffy as the captain moved around Baratie, going out to see the attackers.
"Oi, brat, weren't you cleaning up your mess!?" one cook called out from behind him, referring to a prank-gone-wrong in the kitchen entrance floor.
"I am!" he replied snippily, knowing more clones were there.
The cook scoffed at him, but he had better things to do than question him. Not everyone knew what Naruto was capable of here, by design mostly. He'd kept his ability mostly hidden when he deemed it appropriate.
And even if people knew, his job was to pretend Boss was here, even though he wasn't. Boss had wanted to study the scroll in peace. Those thoughts hadn't changed since. He did wonder what was happening with their real counterpart since he sure shouldn't be studying the scroll now.
Then Johnny and Yosaku showed up drifting in the ocean and he realized his Boss was out in the ocean because Nami had stolen the Going Merry. With the Boss still over there. He could see the boat in the distance and wondered if he should still keep up the charade. But since no orders came in the form of new insights, he stayed put.
Don Krieg, the wannabe macho king, was treating his comrades like garbage. Nothing unusual there, even if it made Naruto's chakra boil.
And then he shivered all over, feeling a massive presence suddenly unleash itself, and gaped with the rest of the crew and the cooks at the giant ship being cut in half.
What the- What's going on here!?
xXXx
Naruto was seething. He paced along the deck, muttering and growling to himself, half paying attention to Nami's listless staring. She'd told him about Arlong. About her village being held hostage. Her mission, and her work. Nothing too detailed but well enough he got the picture, and well enough that he could guess at the suffering she'd gone through over the years.
"I'm going to gut him like the fish he is!" he shouted. "That monster's gonna pay!"
"No…" Nami's voice froze him. "He promised. I'm almost done, I just need a little bit more. I don't need you disrupting that!"
The boy clenched and unclenched his fists, scoffing at the ground. He felt agitated. This wasn't how everything usually went. It was complicated and ugly. Constant suffering nobody had put to end yet. It wasn't as convoluted as some other situations he'd gotten into but still up there. If Nami was promised the village for a large sum, it'd be good, but it didn't feel good enough. The shark had still hurt everyone, Nami especially!
"How do you know he's not lying?" he asked instead.
"He told me himself he doesn't break his promises," Nami said. "Nobody in his crew has ever disagreed."
"But it's not like a contract written in blood or anything? There's no repercussions if he breaks it?" he pressed.
"That's- I know him, and he takes his word as law!"
"Then any loop-"
"DROP IT!" she yelled, rising up and storming away towards the rearing stick.
Naruto looked after her helplessly. He caught the scent of fear and worry under a large pile of stress in the air. He wasn't about to give up on making her reconsider, though. This seemed like a plan that hinged on the benevolence and trustworthiness of a person who was a tyrannical bloodthirsty pirate for goodness' sake! The pirate who was powerful enough to keep a tight grip on a whole village for years!
It didn't seem like she'd be able to listen now. He'd just stick around and make sure the piece of sashimi wouldn't mess Nami up further.
One thing was for sure. He and the Straw Hats wouldn't leave Nami alone at a time like this. He knew it!
xXXx
Zoro was completely and utterly outmatched. The clone had known that since the beginning, yet he could do nothing but watch and hope for a good outcome. It was like the Chunin Exams and Hinata all over again! And this time he knew he couldn't beat the bigger opponent even if Boss was in his place.
Hey, Boss would be glad they remembered Hinata and the exams better now.
The match was completely skewed in the Hawk-Eye person's favor, and Naruto could do nothing. He clenched his fists on the railing. It was like watching an impending explosion. Zoro's strongest attacks were parried aside like mere flies. Yet he kept on fighting.
Honestly, that was pretty standard for Naruto to do. He wasn't used to being on the other side watching someone else do it.
Except here Zoro didn't have a giant fox to bail him out. He grit his teeth as the man was stabbed through the chest, knowing he would be sliced to ribbons if he went in there. And he needed to stay if he wanted to be of any use.
Oh. Right. Jiraiya and summoning that giant toad. He'd used the fox's chakra before… interesting.
Zoro got gutted and he made an involuntary movement forward. He wished Sakura were here. She'd know what to do, she could do something. The conversation of the swordsmen flew in one ear and out the other, even though he knew it was important.
The confrontation ended quickly enough, with Zoro citing honor when he bared his chest to be cut. Immediately, clone Naruto sprang into action with a yell, Luffy launching himself at Hawky, even as the clone dashed into the sea to get their stupid swordsman.
When he got to the surface with the bulk of cut up muscle and heaved him on Johnny and Yosaku's boat, he really started wishing Sakura were here. He grit his teeth and started sorting through whatever he remembered about first aid. Johnny, Yosaku, and Usopp joined him in sorting the man out and he breathed, comforted.
Zoro would be alright, he knew it.
xXXx
Naruto made a bunch of other clones to give Nami help steering and managing their ship. He was still of the opinion that Nami should just ask the crew to give her their aid, but she'd made it clear she would toss him into a barrel and throw him overboard to drift if he suggested that one more time. Not wanting her to lose her trust in him, he stubbornly started helping her instead.
She made them both buns as an apology. He accepted and asked her about her sister. She regaled him with the story of the tattoos. Nojiko sounded like a cool boss lady. He told Nami that and was rewarded with a laugh. It was good to hear her laugh after seeing her cry.
Nami asked if he had any siblings.
"Nope. Or… I guess the closest would be Team 7," he said thoughtfully, biting into another bun.
"Sakura and Sasuke?" she asked.
He nodded. "Kakashi-sensei too. We're family, and he's definitely not the father."
"Why not?"
"He's lazy! Always late! He keeps messing with us and whenever we get him to actually teach us he makes it hell!"
Nami laughed at his expense as he indignantly started explaining the shift in the dynamic after their first C-Rank mission, the training camping trip of extreme balance dodging, that time he sicced the other teams at Team 7 in a free for all, Sakura's stamina training that left her half dead in exhaustion, and the equivalents for all of them to round out weaknesses… And the way they still came asking for more because, curse it all, it was working.
"You miss them a lot," she said quietly when his tone of voice changed to wistful.
He said nothing. It was obvious after all.
"So, whatcha want me to do once we get there?"
She looked thoughtful. At least she wasn't trying to get rid of him anymore.
"Hide, and get your real self to Nojiko."
"...I wanna send a team with you just in case."
Nami glanced at him sharply. Then she sighed, resigned.
"So long as you don't reveal yourself unless I say the word."
He grinned, canines glinting in the light. "No problem."
It wasn't the first time he'd gone undercover as inanimate objects, at least he thought it wasn't. Kunai were easy to become too, and Nami was alright with having some extra knives as transformable allies. She almost regretted saying that out loud to him, lamenting that it made sense to say it. Naruto laughed.
Like that was the most ridiculous thing to ever happen. Ha.
xXXx
Vampire Hawk left. Zoro made a declaration that he'd never lose again before becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman. He was crying. Naruto felt inadequate and respectful, and also wondered why this promise had to be made. So he wouldn't die on them? If that was it, Naruto approved. This was harrowing enough.
Golden Dumbbell dude was still here spouting nonsense though. At the leaving Vampire. Why would he want to fight the Vampire!? That one was pretty chill for someone so strong, and also just wanted to get back to his nap! Hmph. Disrespectful.
Naruto yelped as the World's Strongest Swordsman crashed a giant wave at the Krieg Pirate ship as he disappeared, falling into the ocean. He'd hopped on the railing to give others room to work on Zoro and hadn't anchored his chakra in time. Now he was thankful he hadn't popped and swam to the surface to hear Usopp declaring they'd bring back Nami, and go to the Grand Line next. Luffy's hat flew over his head towards Baratie, getting snatched by a rubber hand.
"Naruto, c'mon!" Usopp called out.
The clone shook his head free of water and climbed to the unsteady surface with effort. "Nah, I'm good! I'm already there!"
"Huh!? What do- oh," Usopp blinked in realization, a tick mark on his forehead. "Cheater!"
Cackling, Naruto rode the still resolving waves back to Luffy's side and gratefully grabbed onto the wood that wouldn't sink his chakra down a bottomless well. This place's ocean was way greedy.
"Those pests, they're coming," Sanji muttered and Naruto turned to look at the decimated fleet full of people.
He guessed they'd only be more determined to get a new boat like this. Too bad for them, the cooks weren't too shabby, Luffy was here, and Naruto was half present. He grinned. This was a fight he was looking forward to.
Also, Luffy got a nice deal of going free from debts if they beat these guys. Win win!
Sanji glanced at him in concern. He was still not really totally a kid, so that was very annoying. These pirates had nothing on the ninjas he'd fought. This wasn't the most dangerous thing to ever happen to him, even at this age, not by a long shot.
xXXx
"Let's steer to the port side, they rarely come there," Nami instructed from her perch as they approached Conomi Islands. "It's a bit of a walk but Merry should be safe."
Naruto hummed in acknowledgement and went to do as asked, eyeing the scenery they'd be entering with appreciation. This was what Nami called home, he should pay attention to it. He wanted to know it well both for her and for the potential fighting that could happen once their crew got here. Although Nami was still a little in denial about that.
Getting Merry in a spot difficult to find through both land and ocean was tricky, but Nami wasn't a slouch in her navigation abilities and this was her home. Naruto was very impressed if he were honest.
They got off and he helped Nami climb the cliff that was the fastest way up. Then they were off towards the apparent orange orchard she had grown up with. It was a relaxing journey, even if he ended up being a pack mule for treasure keeping, which made him resolve to figure out how to make storage scrolls himself again.
"Whoa, they're tall!" Naruto said once they got to the orchard and he saw the 'mikan trees' neatly lined up in rows and rows of green bush with orange splashes.
Nami smiled at him, but the look in her eyes was faraway. "I thought so when I was small too."
He twitched at the reminder he was- looked like- a kid now. Still, he didn't interrupt her when she seemed to be so nostalgic and bittersweet. Kinda like the fruits themselves, at least if all of them were like that one orange he'd gotten his hands on in Wheat Village.
They walked in silence but stopped at a certain patch of land where Nami dug up some earth to drop in the rest of the treasure. Naruto's eyes boggled at the sheer amount of beri in there. It drove home just how desperate, long, and hard Nami's fight for freedom had been.
He understood a little more now why she was reluctant to let go of it.
"Nami!" someone shouted, accompanied by rapid footfalls. "You're back!"
Naruto looked up to see a blue haired woman with a tank top and tattoos running up to them, slowing down as he noticed him peeking around Nami and growing curious instead of excited.
"Oh? Who's this little man? Don't tell me you got a kid without telling me."
"I'm not a kid," Naruto scowled.
Nami shook her head, amused. "Nojiko. This is Uzimaki Naruto, he… tagged along, so he's staying with you until I can figure out what to do about it."
"Oi. I'm helping!"
Nojiko raised a brow, surprise and slight skepticism shining through the gesture. "Huh. Sure, nice to meet you kid."
"I'm not a kid," he repeated more forcefully. "I'm like- over sixteen!"
It was getting tiring, this constant misunderstanding. Back in Wheat Village it had been manageable since he didn't really have any constant to tell him how old he was, so he actually felt like a kid for around one and a half years since he arrived. Then it started to bother him, but in a way he could brush off. Now? Now he was a pirate who knew he'd been a shinobi, practically an adult in the eyes of the law, at the age of twelve and he knew he'd experienced years after that day.
How many was still very much up for debate but he was slowly uncovering more memories. The distraction clone in the fight at Baratie remembered a lot for him back during that battle before he popped.
By the time he got back to the present from fuming they'd relocated into Nojiko and Nami's house to discuss their courses of action.
One thing that brought hope to the two sisters was that Nami finally had 100 million beri in part thanks to Naruto making more ornate knives from multiple different materials for her to sell at Baratie to fancy pansy customers. This was news to Naruto, who had thought she was still falling just the slightest bit short. It definitely made it more understandable for her to be very reluctant to change the plan now of all times.
"I wasn't completely sure I had it until I double checked just now. I have 100 million and 250 beri saved up," Nami offered as explanation, expression focused but also verging on disbelieving hope. "I can buy the village back!"
Nojiko was verging on tears during that reveal, smiling such a relieved smile that Naruto was having a very hard time staying mad at her at all. He was still worried though, so he didn't share in their joy quite as much.
"How are you delivering it all?" he asked pointedly.
And that sparked an actual planning session for how to liberate Cocoyasi Village from Arlong Park.
xXXx
The battle for the Baratie was on-going in a chaotic burst as the Krieg Pirates boarded the just revealed deck fins that quickly became a fighting arena. Naruto flitted in and out of action, being careful of getting hit, and wished his fellow clones would show up soon. He was running low on chakra to create new ones.
These pirates were quite a bit stronger and more coordinated than what they'd previously encountered with the Black Cats. It was a headache when it added the pressure of looking out for the battle cooks who were less experienced.
Sanji wasn't part of them. He was experienced and knocked out more pirates than Naruto himself did. They'd slipped into some rather impressive shows of teamwork together when moments allowed it, especially for the first time they'd fought together. Where Naruto punched, Sanji kicked, and when the other attacked the other was blocking hits for them. Then they'd go their separate ways through the fray after spotting someone else in trouble.
Eventually someone stronger hopped abroad.
Pearl was an annoying dude, and Naruto wished he wasn't the one to deal with it. But Luffy had jumped ship to hang about near Don Kreig and didn't look like he'd come back. Even if stuff in the battle seemed to keep distracting him from the big bad pirate captain. Not that the Gold Dumbbell captain was doing any attacking himself just yet. But Pearl, a round kinda giant person with weird disc armor, was a pain to get around. When Naruto kicked his head forward and he started to bleed he set himself on fire.
Fire that started burning everyone in the vicinity.
What Naruto wouldn't do for a water jutsu right about now. Where was Kakashi-sensei when you needed him!? …Oh yeah, the fight with Zabuza happened with a water dragon in it. What could replace a water dragon? Maybe a cannonba-
A familiar yell caught his attention and he suddenly saw only water as a giant splash landed on top of him and Pearl. He blinked the water away, seeing smoke rise from the other pirate, and remembered the flash of red and blue he saw before the cannonball-like landing in the water.
"You IDIOT!" he shouted as he dove into the water after his captain.
This was the second water rescue he performed today.
He dragged Luffy back to the surface and saw Pearl fruitlessly trying to cause more friction with his embedded pearl cymbal shield things, more frantic by the second as it failed to produce more than a wet squeal. Sanji jumped on him the next second, kicking his head back and causing probably yet another nosebleed. Scratch that, he was unconscious now. During all that, he climbed to the Baratie with Luffy in tow, a Luffy who immediately bounced back after getting out of water.
"Thanks, Naruto!" he said, patting him on the head twice with a grin.
And… really, he couldn't even be mad. So he grinned back. "Don't get launched into the sea again!"
Luffy just laughed, but was cut off by a commotion further down the deck. Where Moustachef was being held at gunpoint.
By Gin.
This situation sparked more tension within the cooks than anything Pearl could have done. Naruto didn't like it one bit.
xXXx
In all honesty, the plan didn't change much. Nami was still going to Arlong Park, except now she had a slab of wood that was worth a lot more than probably any building on the island. The real Naruto was going with her, no arguments. He didn't like this plan but he owed it to Nami's dedication to try it. There was no real risk of death to her, she was too important to the Arlong Pirates, but that didn't mean she couldn't get hurt.
Or any number of things. Not that Naruto was really that great at thinking them through. There were probably so many things he missed. He wished he could consult Shikamaru.
At least he got to provide a subtle way to carry an inordinate amount of money. He glanced sideways at the bag slung over Nami's shoulder.
The three of them, Nami, Nojiko and him, had spent a long while hauling out the treasure into a big bag that they would seal into that seal. It was what he'd been working on on the Merry, the seal he knew but hadn't known what it did. A storage seal was his best guess, and that's what it certainly was after he tried it out. After spending too long staring at the storage seals on his big scroll.
The cinch was trying to work out all the things it was capable of and not capable of. Mostly the mass of the thing they were trying to seal, and if it could be reused or given more items. Answer to the first seemed to be 'just enough for this', the next was a resounding 'yes', and the last a simple 'no'.
What took the most time for him was figuring out how to draw the seal on wood. The added protection it gave to the structure ensured it wouldn't get damaged and burst open so easily in normal scrolls, but adapting it to wood proved challenging. It wasn't like Naruto had any blank scrolls with him. Nami and Nojiko ended up doing most of the heavy lifting at that point, with one clone helping out.
And now they were on their way to Arlong Park, walking side by side silently, Nami with anxious anticipation and Naruto with wary determination.
The building came into view and Naruto transformed into a kunai to hide with the other kunai next to the slab of too much importance. He was depending on sound now to understand what was going on.
There was a kid shouting. A kid with a weapon. Who was pointing it at Nami, apparently. Calling her an Arlong Pirate, trying to avenge his father. Oh. Naruto carefully popped out of the bag, hiding behind Nami to try and limit his visibility from the Arlong Park wall.
"Are you trying to die?" he asked as the boy yelped, pointing his sword at Naruto with wide eyes. "We're going to free the village so that won't happen again, ya know!"
Nami inhaled sharply, cutting a look at him. He knew he had a mulish look on his face. The kid waving a weapon at them scowled.
"I don't believe you! If you could, you would've done it way earlier and Gosa Village would be fine and my Dad wouldn't have died!"
"Look, it's what it is but there's fishmen watching, so you need to get out of here or you're dead," Nami hissed out. "Your Dad wouldn't want that."
"He's dead. And I still don't believe you, pirate!"
He charged. Nami whipped out her staff and knocked him aside easily, hand clutching her bag protectively to her chest.
"Naruto, can you get him out of here?" she asked. "I still have your clones, and someone needs to keep an eye on him."
Naruto stared at the kid, something odd in his gut, then whipped his head to look at Nami. "There's more than one village under Arlong's rule!?"
The hesitation in her eyes gave her away. From the corner of his eye, the kid stood up and started to reach for his sword. Nami nodded slightly. Naruto exhaled, breath sharp. He shouldn't have agreed to this plan. It was incomplete from the start. There would still be an Arlong Park and villages to destroy without Cocoyasi on the list.
"I'll take him. We need to come up with another plan after this, though, Nami. We can't leave it like this!"
And he grabbed the kid's sword, threw him over his shoulders, and started running back. He was angry. Angry that neither of the girls had mentioned this. Furious at Arlong, at everyone who let this happen. He would drop the kid off with Nojiko and hurry back to Nami when he was less likely to blow the whole plan to smithereens himself. He trusted his clones would have it in hand, that they could keep her safe, while he tried to fit this new piece of information into his brain.
If he had his way, they'd raze Arlong Park to the ground like a raging Great Fireball Jutsu.
xXXx
The situation was tricky. Sanji couldn't fight back with the head chef down as a hostage. Luffy followed his lead and so did Naruto, not wanting the Moustachef to die after all this trouble. The chef morale was down and the Krieg Pirates were gaining an upper hand. Something had to be done, and soon.
Sanji was almost down. The other clones better be coming up with a plan!
"You ate your own leg and gave me all the food," Sanji said to the floorboards, rising up with a wet cough. "You saved my life!"
And suddenly Naruto had context for the cook's position on going hungry, with the triade and declaration of loyalty that spilled out of Sanji's mouth. He looked at Moustachef with a respect he didn't have before. Then his eyes caught something in the doorway, and he started moving more stealthily, slipping through the crowd so he couldn't be seen anymore.
Luffy and Sanji were arguing, but he didn't hear most of it. Something about throwing away a saved life being cowardice.
"Hey, Gin!" he called out.
The pirate glanced his way, and suddenly his eyes widened as he dodged to the side. A kunai had shot towards him from the doorway. He grunted in surprise as the kunai poofed into a plume of smoke, and another kunai was stabbing towards his gun hand from the smoke, forcing it away from the chef's head. The kunai grazed a thin line at the side of his wrist. But then that kunai poofed, and suddenly both of his arms were captured by two blonds with a brown jacket and orange highlights.
"I got your hostage free!" four Narutos chorused, grinning triumphantly.
One was in the crowd, the one who called Gin out as a distraction. One was in the doorway, holding rope and heading for Gin's arms that were now being forced behind his back by the last two.
"THERE'S MORE OF HIM!?" the whole shipful of people yelled.
Everyone was distracted, Sanji staring with elated shock while Luffy was grinning with stars in his eyes. Naruto glared as he noticed a spiky ball of death fly from Golden Dumbell's direction straight towards what was perceived as the strongest fighters on their side. He was the fastest and closest and unable to die.
He rushed forward, jumping towards the ball with all his strength, forcing it to stop where it was but not launching it back towards where it came from. One spike pierced through his torso, and he swallowed, glancing back at Luffy and Sanji to see them safe before he dispersed in a cloud of chakra.
He just hoped they used the rage he saw rising to their faces to end the fight in their favor.
xXXx
"Naruto? What are you doing back- Who is that?" Nojiko was confused as the crying kid banging his hands at Naruto's back was put down in front of her rather roughly.
"Some kid who wants revenge on Arlong," Naruto said darkly, seeming to agree with the kid's sentiment. "I told you to stop hitting me, you jerk!"
"B- But they k- killed-!" the kid hiccuped, fists dropping from Naruto's shoulder to rub at his eyes instead.
Nojiko softened, dropping next to the kid to reach out and rub at his arm. The kid shook and leaned into the contact just the slightest bit. Naruto watched with sympathy, rubbing his shoulder a little. He stepped closer to Nojiko to mutter about leaving the kid in her care and started for the door.
"Wait!" the kid stopped him, looking up with eyes that swirled with emotion and conflict. "I'm… I'm Chabo. If- If you're really going to, you know… I- Avenge Chabo's Dad for me. Please."
The ninja looked at him, jaw clenching, conflicting thoughts clashing in his head, but right then he knew he would go at Arlong even against Nami's wishes if it meant this could be avoided in the future. He nodded sharply.
"I will. It's a promise!"
And he rushed out the door, leaving his clone instructions to look after the two.
He didn't get far before a familiar fear laden yell echoed from the shore.
"WHY ARE FISHMEN SO FAST!?"
Immediately, he changed course, running full tilt towards Usopp' voice. He jumped over the mikan trees, on a palm tree, and ran down a cliff to the ocean where Usopp and Johnny abandoned ship while Zoro stood up with his injuries on full display and swords in hand and mouth. He called up a few clones and directed two towards the ones who couldn't walk on water and weren't on the boat.
He himself landed next to Zoro and roundhouse kicked one fishman's jaw so they got hurtled back in the water. Sanji would probably be proud.
"Since when did you perfect that technique?" Zoro asked, slicing at the other fishman who growled at them.
"At the Baratie! You got beat before I could show you!" Naruto replied, yelling a battle cry as he punched the fishman trying to climb back on with two clones in unspoken synchrony. "I doubt Usopp realized either!"
"Since when could you walk on water?" Usopp's shout echoed to them, and Zoro snorted in amusement.
Then he grunted as he blocked the other fishman's blows. He quickly got annoyed with that and released a flurry of attacking slices so fast you could barely see them. The fishman choked, coughing up some blood and clutching at his side.
"Sheesh, these guys have strength way above normal grunts," Zoro mused.
Naruto hummed in agreement, strained as he punched and kicked and twirled around the fishman in the waters, dodging upwards strikes from down below and trying to drag the man to the surface. It worked, and he wasted no time in applying a strangle-hold while others punched the lights out of him. That took way longer than usual.
"Endurance is sorta crazy too. But-"
"Yeah, we've seen tougher," Zoro agreed, knocking his opponent over the head so hard his eyes rolled back and he dropped like a rock.
Unfortunately, the extertion caused him to cough, and a drop of blood splashed to the wood of the ship. The real Naruto quickly assigned his clones to figure out how to tie the fishmen up securely and jumped from the water right next to the swordsman. His bandages were running red rivulets. A reminder for exactly who was stronger than these guys.
"Idiot! Don't ruin everyone's hard work!" he scolded, digging for more bandages from his pockets and setting out to figuring out how to best bind them again.
He didn't get far before his clones deposited Usopp and Johnny back on board and Usopp snatched the bandages from him after scrambling to stand up. "Gah! We told you not to exert yourself!"
"You threatened to tie me up!" Zoro scowled, wiping blood from his mouth and starting to clean the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
Oh look, Naruto could finally tell the katanas apart. But more importantly-
"Where's that rope?" he asked.
Johnny and Zoro pointed to the side, and he grabbed it in a bunch to run to his clones and the fishmen. Nojiko and Chabo were gaping at the spectacle from the shore. Chabo was more awed when Nojiko looked something between impressed and horrified.
Naruto dumped the rope on one clone's head who yelled 'oi' but took it anyway to start figuring if it could withstand fishman strength. Then he walked up to the two with a grin and a wave.
"You guys okay?"
Chabo stepped closer. "That was awesome."
Nojiko just shook her head. "No. No, now they're going to freak out and come after us anyway even after Nami buys… No. Now we'll never be…"
The ninja stopped in his tracks, shifting from an adrenaline rush to horrified to determined again. He growled.
"Don't just give up! Just because Plan A doesn't work doesn't mean there isn't a Plan B! You see how easy that was, right?"
Nojiko's eyes looked somewhere far away, not seeing the moment. "These are just grunts. Chabo told me the whole crew turned Gosa upside down. Literally upside down. Arlong's crew is strong, people have tried and-"
"Look, we've got back-up coming too, and they're plenty strong. Our captain beat the Krieg Pirates! We can do this!"
Blue hair dropped forward as the lady bowed her head. "...Nami won't forgive you."
Naruto flinched, glaring at the ground. His fists clenched. Then unclenched, hands falling useless to his sides.
"...Sometimes the people who don't want help need it the most," he said quietly.
Nobody said anything for a moment. Chabo stared between them with wide eyes.
"Uhhh, Naruto?"
It was Usopp. Everyone turned around to stare at the three people who were also involved in this conflict. Johnny was awkwardly pushing up his sunglasses, looking anywhere but the argument. Zoro stared at them intently, still cleaning out his sword, brow cocked to show his interest and confusion. Usopp's brow was crinkled, eyes flicking between everyone.
"What's going on?"
xXXx
The Narutos holding Gin down watched as the clone pretending to be Boss blocked the morningstar head looking spike ball and disappeared in a puff of smoke. The deck froze.
"Was that a clo-" someone muttered but was cut off by two loud yells of rage.
"DID YOU JUST KILL A KID!?"
"DON'T TOUCH MY CREWMATES YOU BASTARD!"
Sanji looked like he was figuratively on fire, wanting to rush over, while Luffy outright stretched out his hand and rocketed himself at the Golden Dumbbell. The clones shared a look.
"...Didn't they just see us here?" one of them asked.
Mustauchef chuckled, levering himself up off the ground to lean on the wall, broken peg leg on full display. "You can go join him in the assault. I'll keep an eye on this young man."
Gin was oddly quiet. Narutos stared between them before finally nodding and rushing back into the thick of things. The old man better not become a hostage again. One of them was stopped by Sanji grabbing the back of their hoodie.
"You're okay?" he looked him up and down. "What was that!?"
"Clones! Boss is off with Nami!"
He shrugged Sanji's hand off, leaving the cook angry to cover up embarrassed concern. The clone rushed over the water after his counterparts and Luffy. Their captain had already punched his way through a giant spike cape and his hand was bleeding, the reckless- Couldn't he have taken those projectiles to puncture it all? There had to be better plans out there!
Either way Don was down but getting up, and now took out a giant spear that exploded Luffy away. Suddenly the clones were playing 'catch the captain' if Luffy didn't find somewhere to land. The second explosion the three managed to catch him before he hit water, bouncing on the water surface after the resulting waves.
Luffy blinked up at them. "Eh? Didn't you explode?"
"The clone exploded!" the trio shouted, tempted to throw the idiot in the waves he caused.
But well, he was their idiot.
"GIN!" Don Krieg called out, having gotten a break. "Get up and continue the take over!"
Eyes swiveled to the tied up pirate under Red Leg Zeff's bad foot. The man twisted away and rolled to his feet, trying to get free of his binds and reach his tonfa weapons but Moustachef and Sanji reached him first, one kicking his legs from under him and the younger slamming him to the ground to keep him from moving again.
"...Sorry… Don…" he grunted out. "...I can't."
"Really? I've seen you fight, Gin! I've picked you because you CAN! What's STOPPING YOU this time!?" Don Krieg roared.
There was a glint in the sunlight. Tears. The demon man Gin was crying.
"...Don, they saved us," he said, voice thick. "Can't we, just this once, let this ship go?"
Gasps rang out around the Dumbbell pirates. Don Krieg's still frame was menacing. His eyes shadowed.
"Fine. If you won't, then I will. You're no longer one of mine!" he lifted up a cannon out of his repertoire. "Everyone else, take out your masks!"
Masks. Masks. Naruto saw gas masks going around. Which meant poison. By now they'd gotten Luffy on a piece of a floating ship. One clone stepped up.
"Luffy, throw me at it!"
A rubber hand wrapped around his midsection and drew him into a nauseating circle, just as a missile was fired into the air.
"Gomu Gomu no… SLINGSHOT!"
And he flew, tracking with his eyes, grabbing the ball of destruction from midair and falling with it through his arc, downwind, where it couldn't harm anyone except the clone. Everyone watched the blur of brown and orange hit the water in an arc, and the resulting geysir of an explosion resulting in a pillar of gas rising up into the atmosphere. Away from everyone.
"Well now he's killed two of us," one Naruto muttered. "Or did we kill ourselves?"
"Got to be careful to leave some eyes for the Boss here," the other said.
Luffy ignored them, glaring at Don Krieg. Sanji was saying something to Gin but it was too quiet to hear over the chaos of other people's yells and cheers.
"HEY, GIN! DON'T YOU DARE DIE TO THIS MAN!" Luffy shouted. "NO ONE LIKE HIM SHOULD BE A CAPTAIN!"
"YOU DARE MOCK ME!?" the Dumbell roared again. "COME FIGHT IT OUT, YOU BRAT!"
One Naruto groaned and the other laughed when Luffy stuck his tongue out at the man. He launched himself into the fray with the pirate again and the clones tensed, ready to help out when needed.
Luffy was a reckless fighter, unconcerned with death or his own safety as he tanked attack after attack and launched himself at the walking arsenal heedless of the tricks up his sleeve. Naruto only had to catch him once, acting as a slingshot station for Luffy to get back to the fight quickly. They also threw some kunais out to distract the man at crucial moments, saving Luffy from two big explosions to the face.
Soon, Dumbell's spear broke.
After that, there was a chip in his armor.
Then, the whole armor burst into pieces.
And both captains were falling into the ocean, with Luffy in a net and Krieg unconscious.
The two clones cursed as they rushed out to help.
"We should've made him promise!" one yelled.
"Would that have helped!?" the other demanded.
Either way, they dropped beneath the waves to save Luffy from his reckless self. Naruto wondered if this is what it was like to be friends with him sometimes.
He had a feeling Team 7 would say yes.
The ones above the waves were left reeling, thinking about what happened and what would happen next.
xXXx
YES! Chapter!
This was surprisingly fun to write once I got into a flow. It took multiple flows over multiple months but I finally did it! That said, this hasn't gone through nearly any proofreading so you're on your own in distinguishing all my ramblings. If anyone wants to do that for me they're welcome. I'm not going to change all of my typos before most of them are found though, if ever. Times are changing and I won't have as much free time in the future.
I really hope to get through this arc before having to slow down production, if I have to do that at all. It's already slow enough.
Thank you for all of your comments, they've carried me through writing this whole fic. I reread them when I feel stuck and sometimes that helps. And when it helps, it helps a lot. See you all in the comments, and the next chapter!